Mastercam Design
Mastercam Design is a computer-aided design (CAD) software solution that provides versatile tools for designing even complex parts and modifying geometry. Design is included with all Mastercam CAM licenses and is also available as a standalone software product.
Mastercam Design is 2D and 3D CAD software for creating, editing, and preparing geometry. It can be used to draw new parts and auxiliary geometry, create and edit solids, surfaces, and mesh models, and work with models imported from other CAD systems.
Mastercam Design is available as a standalone CAD license, and its CAD capabilities are also included with Mastercam CAM licenses. All drawing, modeling, and editing functions are available in the same Mastercam interface where CAM toolpaths are created. Drawing, repairing, or editing geometry therefore does not require switching to separate CAD software, a different tab, or another program window.
Creating and editing 2D and 3D geometry
Mastercam Design includes tools for creating and editing wireframe geometry, solids, surfaces, and mesh models. Different modeling methods can be used within the same part, depending on which type of geometry is most suitable for the design or manufacturing process.
Wireframe geometry can be used to create points, lines, arcs, and curves, as well as auxiliary geometry needed for machining. Solid modeling makes it possible to build volumetric 3D parts, while history-based solids preserve the different modeling steps so they can be edited later.
Surface modeling can be used to create and edit complex shapes, auxiliary surfaces, and other geometry that is not practical to build solely as solids. Mastercam can also process mesh models, such as STL files and other mesh-based data.
Design also includes drawing, dimensioning, and annotation tools, as well as automatic sheet nesting, which arranges parts on a sheet blank to optimize material usage.
Model preparation for machining
A CAD model received from a customer or design department is not always ready for CAM programming as-is. For machining, the geometry may need to be modified, repaired, or supplemented before toolpaths can be created.
Mastercam’s model preparation tools can also be used to modify solid models imported from another CAD system without their original modeling history.
For example, you can:
- move, copy, and delete faces
- change the dimensions of the part
- modify or remove fillets and chamfers
- move or remove pockets, bosses, and other features
- recognize and process holes
- repair and complete geometry
- create auxiliary geometry and surfaces required for machining
- model stock, fixtures, and other geometry required for manufacturing.
Because model preparation takes place directly in the same Mastercam environment as CAM programming, the required geometry changes can be made and toolpath planning can continue immediately. The model does not need to be transferred to a separate CAD system and then back to Mastercam for every change required during manufacturing.
Extensive compatibility with various CAD file formats
Mastercam Design supports a wide range of 2D and 3D file formats used in manufacturing. This makes it easier to work in situations where customers, engineering, and production use different CAD systems.
Mastercam can import, for example, STEP, IGES, Parasolid, SAT, DWG, DXF, Autodesk Inventor, SolidWorks, Solid Edge, JT, and STL files. File translators are also available for data from other CAD systems.
Imported geometry is not limited to viewing. It can be edited using Mastercam’s wireframe, surface, solid, mesh, and model preparation tools, and then used directly as the starting point for CAM programming.
CAD and CAM in the same Mastercam environment
The key benefit of Mastercam Design in manufacturing is that CAD and CAM functions are available within the same interface.
For example, a CAM programmer can open a model received from a customer, repair the geometry, remove features that are unnecessary for machining, draw auxiliary geometry, create surfaces, or model the stock and then proceed directly to generating toolpaths. There is no need for separate CAD software or constant file transfers between applications for typical geometry modifications required for manufacturing.
Mastercam Design is also available as a standalone CAD license when you need Mastercam’s drafting, modeling, and geometry-editing capabilities without the actual CAM functions.
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